Home Instead supports National Carers Week 10th - 16th June

Features

Many Nenagh people describe themselves as carers. During National Carer’s week, carers and their families must recognize how important it is that carers look after themselves. While caring can be a very rewarding and bonding experience, the role can be demanding, exhausting and stressful. It is vitally important for family caregivers to recognise the signs and take steps to deal with stress before it becomes a issue for themselves and also for the person they look after.

Home Instead Senior Care Tipperary have five basic strategies to help carers maintain their physical and mental health. Carer’s must consider these strategies in order to continue to provide a high standard of care to their loved one over the long term. Home Instead Senior Care Tipperary have produced a free information guide aimed specifically at family carers called “Running on Empty – who cares for the CAREGivers?”.
The five basic strategies are:

• set realistic expectations and goals: consider safety, physical and mental care and quality of life. People receiving care can have different goals to those giving care and it is important to undertand both.
• establish limits: as a carer you will have other responsibilities – to other family members, your job, your spouse and children. You will also need to consider your own skill base. Some procedures you are happy and competent to perform, others less so. How much time can you give to caring and what duties are you happy with?
• ask for and accept help: There are always gaps! These can be time gaps (where you are simply not available 24/7/365), knowledge gaps, financial gaps and so forth. A successful care situation will involve as many family members as possible (in differing capacities), medical and HSE services, support groups.
• take care of yourself: Successful care is provided by a healthy carer. You must have a plan B (what happens if you get the flu?) How do you maintain your health (you will need to take holidays and have days off – how will you manage this?)
• involve other people - It is vital to understand that you cannot do it all yourself. Responsibility and commitment has to be shared.

‘Running on Empty’ goes through each strategy explaining steps that can be taken to achieve a reduction in stress. A caregiver who takes care of themselves, mentally and physically, will ultimately be a better carer to their loved one". To download a copy of ‘Running on Empty’ click on to www.homeinstead.ie/running_on_empty.aspx

Home Instead Senior Care Tipperary can be contacted on  0504 91100.